01 April 2008

New Belgium's Fat Tire coming to Indiana...sort of.

Not since Coors Light has a beer been so desired in Indiana as Fat Tire Amber Ale. And finally Hoosiers will be able to get their lips on that brew. You won't be able to buy it in bottles and take it home, however. No, you'll have to go to your friendly neighborhood bar...Applebee's.

Yeah, you heard us. According to NRN (Nation's Restaurant News), Applebee's has struck a deal with New Belgium Brewing to dedicate four taps at all of their restaurants to New Belgium beers. Three will remain the same year round: Fat Tire, Skinny Dip American Blonde, and Sunshine Wheat. The fourth will rotate between some of their other standards like the 1554 Beligian and the Blue Paddle Pilsner.

Still no word on when the New Belgium beers will be available in Indiana outside of Applebee's.

I for one cannot wait for the fantastic pairing of Mr. Applebee's Cowboy Burger with New Belgium's Sunshine Wheat. Top that off with a Skinny Dip American Blonde and a Triple Chocolate Meltdown™? Man, I'm telling you, that's a meal for the ages!

Neal's beer dinner at L'Ex was nice - don't get me wrong. But when I can have familiar favorites in a casual environment surrounded by photos and paraphernalia from my favorite local sports teams? Heck, everyday can be a beer dinner day!

Who said anything about pranks? I heard through the grapevine that Outback Steakhouse will soon announce that all restaurants will be replacing Fosters with Alpha King. Much better pairing with the Bloomin' Onion...

I for one hope that Jason is serious - I've already put in reservations for the entire HGB clan at the Applebee's at 330 Ridge Road in Munster, Indiana for DarkLord Day.

I can't wait to have a Fat Tire with the Ultimate Trio for only $10.99! Captain Applebee, you've done it again!

I'll just pick three delectable items - perhaps the Mini Bacon Cheeseburgers, the Dynamite Shrimp, and the new Mini Chicken Ranchers! Or will it be a moat of Spinach & Artichoke Dip surrounding the Steak Quesadilla Towers? With a third choice of Boneless Buffalo Wings "flying around" the plate - and if we're lucky, a seasonal of New Belgium's Mighty Arrow Pale Ale - I'll have my own version of medieval times right at the table!

Putting some of their products in cans is a fabulous idea. The Oskar Blues Brewing products are in cans and are awesome! Now if we could only get GOOD microbrews in cans on airplanes it would make flying more tolerable....

I have been proud -- PROUD! -- to have not set foot in an Applebee's in almost 2 years. I've heard about New Belgium before, and was excited to see the headline, until I realized Applebee's was the only place I could get it.

KOTBR #90 - Medal Winners - We visit Barley Island and Brugge Brasserie in Broad Ripple to try some medal winning beers. Things get interesting when we are joined by some special guests, including Michael Phelps, Rob Halford, Glenn Danzig, and Brugge's very own Ted Miller.

Beer: The Pedal Pusher's Potion - Our first in depth feature receives support from Dogfish Head, Left Hand, Breckenridge Brewery, and Smuttynose, and draws in hits from hundreds of cyclists looking for a beer buzz.